Per C. Olson, Criminal Defense Attorney in Portland, Oregon
focused on Criminal Defense and White Collar
Portland, OR
Trusted criminal defense attorney serving Portland.
Practices in
Are you Per C. Olson?
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Quick answer
Per C. Olson is an attorney based in Portland, OREGON. The practice focuses on Criminal Defense and White Collar. Currently practicing at Hoevet Olson PC.
- Based in
- Portland, OREGON
- Experience
- attorney
- Known for
- Criminal Defense · White Collar
- Handles Criminal Defense and White Collar matters from Portland, OREGON.
- Recognized with Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Portland (OR) (2026).
About Per C. Olson: Per C. Olson is an attorney based in Portland, OREGON. The practice focuses on Criminal Defense and White Collar. Currently practicing at Hoevet Olson PC.
Areas of practice
Per's practice areas in Portland
Per concentrates on criminal defense and white collar. Each area below outlines the kind of case Per handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Criminal Defense cases in Portland, Oregon
Per takes criminal defense matters in Portland, Oregon. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Per agrees to represent you.
White Collar cases in Portland, Oregon
Per takes white collar matters in Portland, Oregon. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Per agrees to represent you.
Biography
Per C. Olson, criminal defense attorney serving Portland
Per C. Olson is an attorney based in Portland, OREGON. The practice focuses on Criminal Defense and White Collar. Currently practicing at Hoevet Olson PC. Per works from Portland, Oregon and takes on criminal defense matters across the region.
Per graduated magna cum laude from Willamette University in Salem, and then attended Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland where he graduated cum laude in 1993. Per served as the law clerk for Circuit Court Judge Robert W. Redding (1994-1995) and then for Oregon Supreme Court Justice George A. Van Hoomissen (1995-1997). Per joined the firm in 1998, and became a shareholder in 2005.
Per is a member of the Oregon State Bar and the Washington State Bar Association. He is also admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Supreme Court. Per is a member of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Multnomah Bar Association. He has sat on the Pro Bono Committee of the Oregon State Bar's New Lawyer Division and the Group Insurance Committee of the Multnomah Bar Association. He has written an amicus brief for the ACLU of Oregon, and he is a past board member of Hands On Portland, a nonprofit organization that promotes volunteering in the community.
Per's approach to criminal defense cases
Per Olson practices exclusively criminal defense in state and federal court. He takes on a wide variety of cases from misdemeanors to major felonies, including DUII, fraud and theft, violent crimes, sex crimes, white collar crimes, drug crimes, and other interstate and transnational crimes. Per has obtained multiple acquittals for his clients in state and federal court. Per graduated magna cum…
The kind of cases Per takes
Per reviews new inquiries case-by-case for criminal defense and white collar matters in Portland and the surrounding Oregon area.
Credentials
Credentials — where Per studied and practices
Lewis & Clark College
J.D. · 1993
Willamette University
BA · 1990
Per studied at J.D. in Lewis & Clark College and BA in Willamette University.
Law school and academic background
Per completed J.D. in Lewis & Clark College and BA in Willamette University. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Per runs in Oregon is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Per's legal honors and published work
Per has received 6 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Portland (OR)
2026
Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: General Practice, Portland (OR)
2024
Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Portland (OR)
2023
Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: General Practice, Portland (OR)
2020
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar
2026
Legal awards and honors
Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Portland (OR) (2026). Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: General Practice, Portland (OR) (2024). Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Portland (OR) (2023). Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: General Practice, Portland (OR) (2020). Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026).
Locations
Per C. Olson's office in Portland
Per's primary office is at 1000 Southwest Broadway, Suite 1740, Portland, Oregon, 97205. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Hoevet Olson PC
1000 Southwest Broadway, Suite 1740
Portland, Oregon 97205
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Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire Per C. Olson — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new criminal defense attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Per usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Per charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Per's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Per will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a criminal defense attorney in Portland, Oregon
A short list to run through before you commit: How many criminal defense matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Per
Per discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in criminal defense practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every criminal defense matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Per confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Per's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many criminal defense practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Per C. Olson
How much does it cost to hire Per for a criminal defense case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Per walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Per offer a free consultation?
Per charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Per's office. Some criminal defense attorneys offer free consults — check Per's current terms during booking.
How long do criminal defense cases in Oregon typically take?
Simple criminal defense matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Per gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Per take my case if I'm outside Portland?
Per is licensed in Oregon. Matters governed by Oregon law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Per will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Per?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Per will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Per accepting new criminal defense clients right now?
Per's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Criminal Defense attorneys serving Portland, Salem and Eugene in Oregon
Per handles criminal defense matters throughout Oregon. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified criminal defense attorneys in that community.
More counsel
Other top-rated criminal defense attorneys in Oregon
If Per's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these criminal defense attorneys in Portland handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.





